Saturday, January 3, 2009

Crushed...

I just found out that one of my favorite magazines, Cottage Living is going out of business. Photo courtesy of cottageliving.com.

I must say that given that this news was publically announced in November and I just got the news yesterday via snail mail from Cottage Living, as a subscriber I am disappointed in not knowing sooner. I am guessing the delay is because they were looking for a substitute magazine to offer to the subscriber base...and they found one...Sunset magazine (check out sunset.com). Years ago I used to walk/bike by their office in Menlo Park, CA as I lived less than a 1/2 mile away. They have been around forever...I remember their magazines and books from years gone by (even back to my childhood). I know Sunset has changed over the years, so rather than ask for a refund on my subscription I am going to give them a try.

While I am on the magazine soapbox I have two other thoughts. I subscribe to several other home decorating magazines (i.e. Country Home, Country Living, Coastal Living, Midwest Living, O at Home, Domino) and it drives me crazy that they hit the newsstands before they land at my house. Why is that? I think I should get my copy before the stores.

Do you think that the growth of the blogging world will hurt or help home decorating magazines? If I were an editor I would love blogs as they provide an unbelievable selection of content and creative individuals to feature. However, as a subscriber I am also being exposed to an endless pool of talent…volumes of talent that I wouldn’t have ever seen in my lifetime without the internet. I am viewing the talent of those that have an esthetic that I adore, those that are creative beyond my imagination, those that can repurpose anything, those that share my interest of reusing, those that get the same thrill as I do by rescuing an item on the side of the road, and those that have a style I didn't know existed or that I didn't know I even liked. So, will I along with other bloggers no longer feel the need to purchase a magazine? Or will the tangible presence of a magazine win over and endure?

On a more exciting note, sign up for the HGTV 2009 Dream Home Giveaway at hgtv.com. You can sign up every day until 2/19. Just make sure you invite me over if you win.

6 comments:

Hi,I am new to your blog, came via Cindy and her Romantic Home. I got a postcard in the mail today about my "Cottage Living" suscription. They are going to send me Southern Accents rather than Sunset. (I wonder why the difference?) I also heard that Oprah's decorating magazine was going to fold as well. Not sure when though.

I agree, it is rather annoying to see a magazine in the store racks before it comes to my house. I wonder why that is?Love your blog!

I'm disappointed too about Cottage Living. I didn't find out until I posted about the magazine and a fellow blogger let me know. It really was my favorite magazine and I've been wondering when they would give notice. I haven't received anything about it, but I was hoping they would offer to transfer my subscription to another magazine.

I don't have a subscription to Cottage Living but I have bought a few issues in the past and they were really good...!! Thank you so much for featuring my giveaway on your blog, I am truly honored!!Isabel

This is the first I've heard about Cottage Living...maybe I'll get my card in the mail tomorrow. I'm in Texas so it might take longer to get! Just found you this evening. Beautiful pic of your house and the snow. I've wondered too why I don't get my mags before the stores do...there have been times when I've bought one thinking that my subscription ran out and then a week later I get another one in the mail! Drop by and visit me...I'll be back! Happy New Year!Patti

Hi, Just returning a visit. I started to look back a few posts. I just received my postcard yesterday. I live in Minnesota and I am offered Southern Living magazine. It would have been nice to have been offered Midwest Living.... I really enjoyed Cottage Living and I was disappointed, to say the least. I too hate that when I enter the grocery store and see BH&G or Country Living in the newstand before it hits my mailbox. I always thought my mailman was reading it before I got it - LOL! ~ Robyn